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Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Certificate in SmartAg Engineering

The Agricultural and Biological Engineering graduate studies program offers an opportunity for students to earn a certificate in SmartAg Engineering. Students will be trained in several topical areas relevant to modern computation-based innovations in agriculture termed SmartAg. A tiered course structure introduces students to concepts of instrumentation, machine learning, and control methods in SmartAg applications.

A 3-tier sequence of courses was devised based on the current catalog of courses with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and SmartAg concepts. The 3-tier sequence consists of three required courses followed by electives that can be selected according to the student's area of focus or interest.

The first course at Tier I is a graduate level instrumentation class which covers topics such as, systems identification, data collection, and analysis, experimental error, sampling theory, various traditional and IOT sensor technologies with sensor fusion, and data acquisition systems using Arduino, LabView and NVIDIA Jetson edge processors. At Tier II, the SmartAg course introduces students to fundamental computational control approaches such as PID, fuzzy logic, neural networks, fuzzy-neural control, classifiers, process control and motion control applied to agriculture. In addition, at Tier II, students will take a machine learning class which will introduce them to various AI/ML topics such as Bayesian Learning, non-parametric learning, discriminative learning, and Deep Learning. After completion of the first three courses, students can select 2 additional specialized courses (electives) according to their area of focus or interest across different disciplines.

How to apply for admissions into the program:

  • For currently enrolled UF students, apply here. You will need your GatorLink username and password to apply.
  • New students should apply here.

IMPORTANT: Student must apply to start the certification prior to completing two courses toward the certificate.

Additional Requirements

  • Students must complete all certificate courses with a “B” or better to earn this certificate.
  • Credits earned at another institution may not be used to meet the requirements of a UF Graduate Certificate.
  • Currently enrolled UF graduate students will be permitted to count previously taken UF coursework towards this Graduate Certificate

How to be Awarded the Certificate:

  • Students must apply to receive a Graduate Certificate by the degree application deadline of the term in which they plan to complete the certificate program requirements.
  • Graduate Certificates will be awarded after successful completion of the program and will be posted to the academic transcript. The Office of the University Registrar will print and distribute Graduate Certificates to the recipients.
  • Students must be registered during the term in which they receive the Graduate Certificate.

Please notify Daphne Flournoy (dflournoy@ufl.edu) after you complete the application so she can process your admission.

3-Tier Sequence of Courses

  • Tier 1 [Required]
    ABE6031 Instrumentation in Agricultural Engineering Research
  • Tier 2 [Required]
    ABE 5009 Control Methods in SmartAg Systems (Required)
    STA 6703 Statistical Machine Learning
    EEL5840 Fundamentals of Machine Learning
  • Tier 3 [Choose Two Courses]
    AOM 5435 Advanced Precision Agriculture
    AOM5456 Applied Methods in SmartAg Systems
    ABE 5038 Recent Developments and Applications in Biosensors
    ABE 5152 Electro-Hydraulic Circuits and Controls
    ABE 6005 Applied Control for Automation and Robots
    ABE 6266 Nanotechnology in Water Research
    ABE 6035 Advanced Remote Sensing: Science and Sensors
    ABE 6645C Computer Simulation of Crop Growth and Management Responses
    ABE 6649C Advanced Biological Systems Modeling 
    ABE 6933 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering
    ABE 6933 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering 
    AOM 6061 Adv Ag Food Sys In
    GIS 6116 Geographic Information Systems Analysis